In an age where we are consumed by ‘tech’, switching it all off has become one of the best ways to begin to reconnect with the outside world. Landscape Photographers may be one of the last groups to catch on to this notion, driven instead by the overwhelming presence of social media and the bombardment of images of every photogenic, accessible location to shoot. The internet is enticing an exponentially growing number of Photographers - and the wider public – outdoors where they chase photos of the latest trending location, often placing themselves in that ‘now’ location.
Spending time outdoors has been scientifically shown to improve our mental health and well-being and yet it’s rare for some of us to slow down enough to properly look, listen and appreciate the small wonders in nature, the beautiful details. In the hurry, there is a risk that the art of trying to create original and artful photographic images with sensitivity, passion and soul could be missed.
The lockdowns in 2020 reaffirmed the benefits of getting closer to nature. As soon as opportunities to visit our wild spaces opened up again, it was clear that Britain as a nation had rekindled its love for the great outdoors. From that spark, more of us have returned to nature to relieve the stresses of day-to-day life. Those who now have a desire for space and fresh air are filling the cities’ parks and commons and partaking in picnic lunches. Country lanes are brimming with cyclists and runners. Walkers are wandering further and climbing higher. Photographers, guided by the internet to every known beauty spot, seem to arrive earlier and in greater numbers. National Parks are busy with people who may be questioning why they hadn’t explored these places before. It seems crazy to me that so many people have only come to this realisation now. We should all have learned the benefits that nature can bring to our daily lives long before our freedoms became restricted.
And so it was, that when I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Borrowdale recently, I resisted the urge to drive quickly from location to location to ‘bag’ the big picture. Instead, I walked through the landscape searching for the small details that held my gaze, reassured me and helped me to breathe. Here are a small sample of the images I made as I wandered, delighting in each fragment of the landscape for its intrinsic value in nature as a part of the whole. The photographs I took are not show-stoppers, but they are for me heart warmers. I enjoyed recording the countryside, the little pockets of loveliness that you don’t necessarily know are there until you turn away from the obvious. I hope you enjoy looking at my pictures ….. slowly ……
